Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertibles, Coupes, Cadillac, GM
Spy Shots: 2009 Cadillac XLR caught in the buff!
by Alex Nunez on Apr 14th 2008 at 11:28AM 
Click above for high-res gallery of 2009 Cadillac XLR spy shots
The 2009 Cadillac XLR facelift has been unofficially revealed thanks to Brenda Priddy's merry band of shutter-clickers, who caught Caddy's roadster sans camo during a test drive. The freshened nose gets new foglamps and an egg-crate-style grille that stylistically brings it in line with the CTS, STS, DTS and Escalade Platinum front-ends. A tall, metallic-finish side extractor vent has been added to each front fender, as well. Out back, the exhaust still exits from beneath the center of the rear bumper, but on the "base" XLR shown, shapely, integrated widemouth tips now appear to be part of that bumper assembly. We're curious to see whether the XLR's interior also gets an overhaul. While not bad per se, the interior styling of Cadillac's flagship as currently offered falls short of the standard recently set by the entry-level CTS. It would serve GM well to lavish the new-style interior treatment upon the XLR, thus our interest in seeing spy shots of the '09's passenger compartment. (Got that, Brenda?) If the new XLR doesn't do it for you, Cadillac will have the CTS Coupe along in short order.
Gallery: 2009 Cadillac XLR-V - spy shots
[Source: Brenda Priddy & Co.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
HotRodzNKustoms 11:33AM (4/14/2008)
I still love this car but I would rather have a CTS convertible.
Reply
Xcountryflyer 2:48PM (4/14/2008)
Yeah doesn't look much different. Hopefully than the interior is transformed from pedestrian to CTS plus.
HotRodzNKustoms 1:01PM (4/15/2008)
SSSShhhhh GM has been listening lately.
But I don't see what the complaint about the interior is. I was just at a Cadillac dealer yesterday getting my Onstar updated on my truck and I find the interior to be a vastly more inviting place to be than that of a SL.
Torrent 11:35AM (4/14/2008)
Oh my!!!......................It looks the same...
Reply
Franz 11:37AM (4/14/2008)
Ditto. Not much of a "facelift".
EuropaCar 11:40AM (4/14/2008)
Agreed. Pretty car but not much new
Maybe it's a good thing?
Torrent 11:40AM (4/14/2008)
Really. I was expecting cts styling.
Doug 2:32PM (4/14/2008)
Word.
TKOsoccer03 7:51PM (4/14/2008)
Well, it looks meaner to me.. like the aticle says, the front end kinda dips down now.
I think this is a good face lift though. The XLR competes well as it stands, so I wouldn't see a need for anything drastic.
I do remember reading a while back the interior would get overhauled, so I can't wait to see that.
That exhaust.. bad ass.
Can't wait to see the V series and the numbers it puts up. Hopefully GM will make it handle this time.
Craig 8:27PM (4/14/2008)
Looks like a Corvette in a cheap Bangkok suit...
J.Crew 11:41AM (4/14/2008)
Yeah, nothing new here on the outside. Oh well.
Reply
CarbonBlack 11:44AM (4/14/2008)
Gotta love everyone putting their damn logos all over the car!
Reply
Mr. Oak 11:46AM (4/14/2008)
There wasn't much wrong with the XLR to begin with, it just appeared to be unfinished. Hence, I don't think that much needs to be done for a mid-life refresh. They really just need to "finish" the car.
Now, I like most of what I see, except what's going on between the fog lamps. Hopefully it comes across better in the flesh than in pictures. Come on GM fix this car, you really aren't that far off.
....and yes, the interior is in dire need of attention.
Reply
Mr. Oak 11:48AM (4/14/2008)
Seriously, what is your point?
Reply
Mr. Oak 11:50AM (4/14/2008)
Stupid reply malfunction. This post was intended for CarbonBlack.
TriShield 11:55AM (4/14/2008)
The powertain and interior are the big question marks on the refresh, the exterior styling was always fine.
Reply
dildomassive 11:58AM (4/14/2008)
Yeah it was always fine if you are 70+ living large in an retirement home in florida.
Alex Nunez 12:02PM (4/14/2008)
The XLR-V is far from retirement-home fare...
SilverAero 12:13PM (4/14/2008)
He is right, I've driven an XLR-V. Trust me this car is not ment for the elderly. What makes you think they can even get in and out of it.
shethj 12:20PM (4/14/2008)
powertrains are unchanged. the base model is now the platinum. 18" wheel design will be changed. Interior gets standard leather wrapped upper dash, new wood, new metal accents and color choices, new gauge design and new window switches. This isnt a drastic interior overhaul but it should be an improvement. The grille is actually quite different if you could see the current one next to the pic above.
the 2009 info for XLR and most other GM models has been released.